May – the Bakke corn crib is the first building moved to homestead after being a float in the Westby Syttende Mai parade

Restoration of log buildings begins with funds donated by Owen and Dorothy Bekkum

Lloyd and his sister Ruth Thrune donate their 44 acre farm to preserve the historic 1853 Skumsrud log cabin and to perpetuate the Norwegian heritage of the area – this becomes the Skumsrud-Thrune Heritage Farm

1983

May – Dedication of Norskedalen’s Thrune Visitors’ Center, Bekkum Homestead, and the Helga Gundersen Arboretum with gala public event

1984

The Wold-Stendahlen log house (donated and dismantled in 1983) opens as a gift shop

First Midsummer Festival

1985

First Old-Fashioned Christmas

1986

Second barn (Aarness Berg Bjornstad barn) comes to Bekkum Homestead

October – raptor mews built and bird programming begun

1987

First Threshing Bee and meal

1988

The restored Lindevig House at Skumsrud Heritage Farm opens

1989

40 acres of land on west side of coulee purchased with funds donated by the Paul E. Stry Foundation…named Strywald.

The Andersstuen House, donated in 1986, is restored at Skumsrud Heritage Farm

The Haugen shanty is moved and restored at the Bekkum Homestead

The Moilien machine shed is moved to the Bekkum Homestead

Stone arch bridge built in the arboretum by Wisconsin Conservation Corps.

1990

The Erickson School, donated in 1983 – dismantled and stored in 1986 is restored at Skumsrud Heritage Farm

The 1853 Skumsrud log cabin is placed on the National Register of Historic Places

James K. Nestingen was hired as Executive Director. He served until 1994.

1991

$440,000 donated by the Paul E. Stry Foundation for addition and major renovation of the Thrune Visitors’ Center

The Tommerassen granary, donated and dismantled in 1990, is restored at the Skumsrud Heritage Farm